Northern Territory Indigenous Music Awards have gone National

The Northern Territory Indigenous Music Awards have gone national becoming the ‘National Indigenous Music Awards‘ (NIMAs). The awards event, known as “the ARIAs of Indigenous Music”, is now in its 8th year. The change means that there are now three new national award categories. Besides providing a platform for Indigenous musicians outside the NT, these developments also bring greater exposure to artists from the Northern Territories.

Nominations for the NIMAs are currently open and will close on July 22nd, 2011. Any individual or organisation working in the Australian Music Industry can submit artists/acts (signed or unsigned) for nomination.

The Awards Ceremony will be held at Darwin’s Gardens Amphitheatre on Friday 19 Aug 2011. 

Garrangali win 2010 Indigenous Music Awards

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Northern Territories ‘Reggae & Roots’ band Garrangali has won best Album of the Year and best Song of the Year in the 2010 Indigenous Music Awards with their album ‘Garrangali (Crocodile Nest) and its winning song ‘Searights’ – beating singer Jessica Mauboy who was also a contender for the awards.

‘Searights’ celebrates the recognition of native title to the tidal zone & sea around Blue Mud Bay as established in the Supreme Court by ‘The Blue Mud Bay Decision’.

The band members mostly live in Yilpara (Blue Mud Bay) in Arnhem Land and sing in their indigenous Yolngu language. The album, which was launched in March this year, features the Yidaki (didgeridoo).